11:30am

WVAS Local

Judge blocks task force from raiding bingo operations

Montgomery, AL – - Hundreds of state police have been stymiedin attempted raids on two multimillion-dollar bingo operations inAlabama. A court order blocked an attempt by the governor's antigamblingtask force to raid VictoryLand at Shorter, which reopened Friday asofficers left. A judge refused to allow a raid, pending a hearingnext Friday. At Dothan, some 140 troopers and law officers gathered in theearly morning for a raid on the Country Crossing casino. But mostleft after attorneys for the casino said the troopers lacked anysearch warrant or legal authority to raid it. Antigambling task force chief John Tyson said he is asking theAlabama Supreme Court to clear the way for raids. He contends thebingo machines are illegal.